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CRIMINALS 



BT THE SAME AUTHOR 

EMBERS 
AND OTHER ONE-ACT PLAYS 

TRADITION 

AND OTHER ONE-ACT PLAYS 

POSSESSION 

AND OTHER ONE-ACT PLAYS 

NOWADAYS 

A THREE-ACT CONTEMPORANEOUS 
COMEDY 



CRIMINALS 

A ONE-ACT PLAY ABOUT MARRIAGE 
BY GEORGE MIDDLETON 




NEW YORK 

B. W. HUEBSCH 

MCMXV 



COPYRIGHT BY GEORGE MIDDLETON, 1914, 1915 

This play in its printed form is designed for the reading 
public only. All dramatic rights in it are fully protected by 
copyright, and no performance — professional or amateur — or 
public reading may be given without the written permission 
of the author and the payment of royalty. Communication 
should be sent to the author, care of the publisher, 225 Fifth 
avenue. New York City. 




2PC-7I9I5 

CI.A420079 



INTRODUCTION 

Truth to life does not necessarily imply 
truth in art. [Though all human nature is 
material for the author and there is no im- 
morality in art save insincerity in its treat- 
ment, I should be the first to admit the dan- 
ger of deducing a generality from an isolated 
instance. Therefore, the fact that this play 
was founded on an actual occurrence would 
not alone have prompted my using so inti- 
mate a theme of life in the art form. And 
since the dramatist must inevitably select the 
high lights so that he may suggest the larger 
problems radiating beyond the mere episode, 
the arrangement of events in " Criminals " 
may seem exceptional. Nevertheless, in 
spite of the compression, necessitated by the 
one-act form, the human reactions in this 
play and its basic situation are by no means 
so uncommon as one might casually assume. 
It would be easy for the incredulous to 
deny and for the cynical to scoff at its premise 
of complete virginal ignorance; but that 



INTRODUCTION 



would not erase the records of medical 
literature. Psychologists and neurologists, 
who have related divorce to something more 
than legal causes, have also given abundant 
testimony to the part which initial sex ex- 
perience has ultimately played in the wreck- 
age of marriage. And I have myself been 
greatly surprised at the large number of col- 
lateral cases which have been brought to my 
attention since this was written and produced 
— cases of women whose experiences have, 
in essence, been similar to Janet's, though 
their reactions have been translated into a 
less radical course of conduct. 

I have not sought to dramatize a particu- 
lar pathological phenomenon : I have written 
this play because I believe it intimates the 
human drama which, with varying degrees 
of intensity, may lurk In this phase of mar- 
riage. The resolution arrived at Is not a 
playwright's conclusion Intended to preach a 
moral: it Is legitimately achieved, I hope, 
through the shock of juxtaposed characters 
finding a new point of view under stress of 
circumstance, tragic to them. 

The advantage of play publication, as I 



INTRODUCTION 



have indicated in my other volumes, is that 
the dramatist has a written record of his en- 
deavor, accessible to those who may be Inter- 
ested in his work where wide production, for 
obvious reasons, is denied it. 

I should be ungrateful did I not here ex- 
press my appreciation to Miss Aline Barns- 
dall, for her courage in producing this play, 
as well as my thanks to the little company 
who interpreted, with rare tact and delicacy, 
the very difficult roles which were intrusted 
to them. 

G. M. 

September tenth, 191 5. 



CRIMINALS 



FIRST PERFORMANCE 

at the Fine Arts Theatre, Chicago, 

February third, 1915, 

under the management of 
The Players Producing Company. 



THE CAST 

Alfred York . ,. . ,. Fred Permaine 
Ann, his wife . . Florence Le Clercq 
Janet, their daughter . Bernice Golden 
Carter Merwin . . Frank Stirling 

Scene: The York home: about ten 0* clock, 
one Spring evening. 

Produced by the Author. 



CRIMINALS 



door into Janet's room is open and Mrs. 
York is silently gazing at it. She is seated 
on the sofa and has ceased sewing. He is 
in a deep chair, by the table, trying to read 
the evening paper. But he cannot seem to 
concentrate on it; he looks toward his wife 
now and then as though both were dwelling 
on the same thought. 

York, in his late forties, is a rather obvious 
kindly man with a quiet voice and gentle man- 
ner. He wears a frock coat. 

Mrs. York, somewhat younger, is also a 
lovable personality who has expended all her 
energies within the concentrated limits of her 
home life. She still wears her formal gray 
afternoon gown. 

They are, in fact, a harmoniously happy 
couple, reticent with regard to their inner 
feelings, and instinctively submissive to cer- 
tain conventions which, until now, the easy 
habit of life has never made them question, 

Mrs. York 
[With a sigh'\ 

I can't help thinking we shan't see Janet 
come from that room again. 



CRIMINALS 



York 

No. 

Mrs. York 
Now she's gone we'll leave everything In 
there just as it is. 

York 
Yes. 

Mrs. York 
[With contented recollection"] 
She was so happy here. 

York 
She had a good mother. 

Mrs. York 
[Lovingly eyeing him J 
And father, Fred. 

York 
I'm just an ordinary sort of person. 

Mrs. York 
But she appreciated all that you did for 



her. 



4 CRIMINALS 



York 
A father Isn't much guidance to a da,ugh- 
ter. It's the mother who counts there. 

Mrs. York 
I did everything I could to bring her up 
properly. [Sighing again^ But times have 
changed since / was a girl. One has to be so 
careful. 

York 
It's the mothers who have changed — let- 
ting their girls go about just as If they were 
boys. There wouldn't be so much trouble, 
Ann, If all mothers were companionable like 
you. 

Mrs. York 
I was glad I could devote all my time to 
Janet. I can almost be happy now that I'm 
alone — thinking of that. 

York 
It was the greatest joy In my life to see 
you two so Inseparable. Why, Janet hardly 
left your side, did she? 



CRIMINALS 



Mrs. York 
No. When I was with her I always felt 
as though I were walking in a garden of 
lilies. 

York 

Yes, pure white. 

Mrs. York 
I often wondered why she liked white fur- 
niture. 

York 
It was like herself somehow, I suppose. 

Mrs. York 
[She goes to himl 

And to-night will be the first time she's 
ever been away from me. [Shuddering^ 
To-night ! 

York 

There, dear, don't worry. 

Mrs. York 

[With instinctive reserve as she takes his 

hand] 

You know what I'm thinking? 



CRIMINALS 



York 
Yes. 

Mrs. York 
I hate to think of such things. 

York 
[Trying to he cheerful] 

Then don't let's talk of them. Carter is 
her husband now. 

Mrs. York 
I know. It's strange how girls grow up 
in a place and then leave when the first 
man . . . 

York 
{With consoling assurance"] 

He's a good chap and early marriages are 
best. 

Mrs. York 
Yes. And she seemed so sure of herself. 
[There is a pause as she thoughtfully goes 
to window and gazes out] What time is 
it? 

York 
Just ten. 



CRIMINALS 



Mrs. York 
Tm so glad they told us where they were 

going. 

York 
But didn't you feel as though it spoiled 
their little romance for us to know? 

Mrs. York 
{^Smiling'] 
Nothing could spoil their romance; it was 
like a story-book. But Janet really wanted 
us to go down to the boat to-morrow and see 
her off. [mstfully] It must be nice to 
have a honeymoon in Italy. 

York 
[Trying to be cheerful throughout'] 
Carter's got more money than / had when 
you and I were married. 

Mrs. York 

[Afectionately'] 

But they won't have a happier time over 

there than we did in Washington, will they? 

[After another silence] I — I thought per- 



8 CRIMINALS 



haps she'd 'phone us to let us know she 
reached the hotel safely. 

York 
[Playfully] 
We didn't think of 'phoning. 

Mrs. York 
Mother didn't have a 'phone then. \ln 
recollection] But I thought of her. \They 
smile; then she puts her arm on his shoulder, 
as she stands behind his chair] Oh, Fred, 
I . . . 

York 
[ Under standingly] 

You mustn't feel like this about Janet, 
dear. Everything will be as it should be — 
just as it was between us. Carter's a fine 
fellow and . . . 

Mrs. York 
She's only a little girl. 

York 
So were you, Ann, when I took you away 
from your mother. 



CRIMINALS 9 



Mrs. York 
It's foolish of me I know, but . . . [As 
though wishing to change the subject^ The 
room and hallway are full of fragrance. 

York 
Suppose we send her wedding flowers to 
the hospital to-morrow. 

Mrs. York 
You are always so thoughtful, Fred. I'll 
tell Mary in the morning. 

York 
Shall we go down and look at them again 
before we go to bed? 

Mrs. York 

Yes; I'm tired though. It's been such a 

long day. [She goes to him tenderly and 

puts her arms on his shoulders as he now 

stands facing her^ Fred, it takes me back. 

York 
Some twenty years, eh? 



10 CRIMINALS 

Mrs. York 
We only have each other now. 

York 
Yes; the way It was when we started. 

Mrs. York 
It was hard for me to see my little girl go. 
\_She kisses him'] I've been so happy here 
with you and Janet. \^The telephone rings. 
She goes to it] I knew she'd 'phone. Let 
me go, Fred. I want to hear her voice. 
[Taking off the receiver eagerly] Yes, 
hello! Is that you, Janet? No? . . . 
You wish to speak to Mr, York? Is that 
you, Carter? Yes; he's here. [She slowly 
hands the receiver to York as she stands half 
trembling with sudden premonition] Carter 
wants to speak to you. [York slowly takes 
the receiver] Oh, I'm afraid. 

York 
[At 'phone] 

Yes, Carter. [Startled] What's that? 
Coming back here? To-night? [After a 
pause] Yes, of course: you'd better come 



CRIMINALS II 

around yourself right away. Walt. The 
front door will be unlatched. Come right up 
to the sitting room. [He hangs up the re- 
ceiver and looks at Mrs. York, who is 
dumbly questioning him^ Janet's on her 
way here. 

Mrs. York 
Here! 

York 
She left the hotel fifteen minutes ago — 
alone. 

Mrs. York 
[ Terrified] 
Alone ? 

York 
She has her own key? 

Mrs. York 
Yes. I wanted her always to keep It. 
But you told Carter to come also? 

York 
Yes. Has Mary gone upstairs yet? 



12 CRIMINALS 

Mrs. York 
No! [As York ^oes to telephone and 
switches it~\ What are you doing? 

York 
[Into telephone'] 

Is that you, Mary? I've just had a 
'phone. We are expecting somebody. Put 
the front door latch back so he can come right 
up to us. No, I don't want to keep you up : 
then go to bed. Understand? Good-night. 

[He hangs up the receiver, Mrs. 
York has gazed before her during 
this, as though bewildered. There is 
a long pause before either speaks: 
then it is in broken tones, full of an 
implication that is hardly phrased] 

Mrs. York 
Fred; something terrible's happened. 

York 
There's no reason to think that. 

Mrs. York 
The tone of his voice. 



CRIMINALS 13 



York 
Now don't give way: It's all right. 
[Slowly] Perhaps . . . 

Mrs. York 
[Slowly'] 
Perhaps what? 

York 
[Hesitating] 
Well, sometimes . . . 

Mrs. York 
But Carter must have known she . . . 

York 
[Half to himself] 
It may be . . . 

Mrs. York 
[Hysterical] 
Why don't you say what you think? 

York 
I remember men telling me . . i 



14 CRIMINALS 

Mrs. York 
Do men ever talk of such things? 

York 
Yes: afterwards. [He apparently hears 
the maid going upstairs. He goes hack to 
he sure, then turns to his wife^ Mary has 
gone up to bed. 

Mrs. York 
Do you think Janet will tell us? 

York 
If not, why Is she coming back here? 

Mrs. York 

Where else could she go? . . . Oh, Fred, 

this Is more than I can stand. Suppose — • 
suppose she doesn't come ? 

York 
Nonsense. Shall we go downstairs? 

Mrs. York 
No; not where their flowers are. [She 
tries to control her growing agitation^ 
Why doesn't she come ? — She ought to be 



CRIMINALS 2 

here by now.- Are you sure Carter said she 
was coming here? 

York 
Maybe she walked. 

Mrs. York 

\^Murmuring'\ 

Alone In the street this time of night? 

York 
There's no danger. 

\The curtains are pushed open and 
Janet enters. She goes hysterically 
to Mrs. York and buries her face in 
her mother's lap, sobbing. York 
comes over beside them, anxiously. 

Janet York, about nineteen, is 
the personification of sensitive deli- 
cacy and fragile grace. Her present 
agitation is such that, when words 
fail she conveys her meaning through 
groping, broken tones and suggestion. 
She is wearing her smart ''going 
away '' tailor-made gown and hat\ 



1 6 CRIMINALS 



Janet 
Mother ! Mother ! 

Mrs. York 
My girl! What is it? 

York 
Wait, Ann. 

Janet 
Oh, I . . . I . . . 

Mrs. York 
Don't cry so. 

York 
[Patting her shoulder'] 
Janet, dear! 

Janet 
[Looking up at himi 
Father ! 

York 
Tell us. 

Janet 
I'll . . . I'll tell mother. 



CRIMINALS 17 



Mrs. York 
[Looking at York] 
Leave us together, Fred. Maybe she'll 

York 
You'd better tell me, too, in case . . . 

Mrs. York 
Your father's right, Janet. 

Janet 
I ... I can't tell it. 

York 
But your mother's frightened. 

Janet 
So ... so ... was I — frightened, 

York 
But, dear . . . ? 

Janet 

It was different from ... I didn't know. 
. . Why didn't you tell me? 



1 8 CRIMINALS 

Mrs. York 
lAstonishedl 
Tell you? 

Janet 
Yes : what marriage means. . . . He said 
that was marriage. 

• [Mr. and Mrs. York exchange looks, 
slowly realizing the situation^ 

Mrs. York 
Didn't your heart tell you? 

Janet 

\_Phrasing her feeling with great difficulty 

throughout] 

Not that. How could It? My heart 
couldn't know thatf It stopped. It seemed 
to snap. It felt ashamed. I'm ashamed 
now. 

Mrs. York 
\_Perplexed~\ 

But all the time when Carter was with you 
here, didn't you — didn't your heart . . .? 



CRIMINALS 19 



Janet 
I tell you I never knew there were such 
things in the world. But you knew. You 
both knew! [Reproachfully^ You should 
have told me and then I wouldn't have . . . 
Oh, why didn't you tell me ? 

Mrs. York 
[Helplessly'] 
Fred? 

York 
[At a loss] 

Don't — don't be harsh at your mother, 
Janet. 

Janet 
[hooking up] 
Then why didn't you tell me? 

Mrs. York 
How could your father . . .? 

Janet 
[Interrupting abruptly] 

Why not? He let me marry Carter when 
I came and asked him. My father let me go 



20 CRIMINALS 

away with Carter. And you both knew; 
Carter said you both knew. And neither of 
you told me. 

[York shakes his head slowly as though 
overcome by it all; they try, however, 
to console Janet] 

Mrs. York 
Dear, you — you mustn't feel like this 
about Carter. 

York 
[Tenderlyl 
No — no. 

Janet 
I can't help how I feel. 

York 
But, Janet; he's your husband. 

Janet 
Yes. My husband ! I know that. But I 
didn't know what it meant having a husband. 
[Quickly'] Does that give him the right if 
I . . ,? 



CRIMINALS 21 



York 
Yes, Janet 

Janet 
[More deeply hurt at the thought'] 
Then if neither of you would tell me, why 
didn't he tell me before . . .? 

Mrs. York 
[^Shocked] 

Why people don't talk of such things be- 
fore they're married, dear. 

Janet 
They don't? 

Mrs. York 
How could they be so immodest? 

Janet 
Immodest? Immodest to talk?, Yet he 
could . . .? Oh . . .! 

York 

What did you think marriage was, 
dear? 



22 CRIMINALS 

Janet 
[Simply 1 

I — I thought it was just being together, 
like you and father. 

Mrs. York 
[Involuntarily^ 
But your father and I . . . 

Janet 

[Retreating from them in realization and 
astonishment'] 

You and father ! Oh ! 

Mrs. York 
Janet. 

York 
Janet ! 

Janet 
Don't touch me, father. [She moves 
quickly away from him] I don't want any- 
body to put their hands on me again. I — 
I have to think. I want to understand what 
you said. — I always knew there was some- 



CRIMINALS 23 



thing I didn't understand. . . . [^Incredu- 
lously^ How could any girl grow up and 
not . . .? [Quickly turning to her mother^ 
Mother, did you know what — what . . .? 
Did you know this, when you and Father 
first . . .? 

Mrs. York 
[Hardly able to speak] 

No! 

Janet 

[Incredulously'] 

You didn't know either, when you were 
married? 

Mrs. York 
[Emphatically] 
A good girl shouldn't. 

Janet 
[Fehemently] 

A good girl! Then I wish I weren't a 
good girl! 

York 
Janet 1 



24 CRIMINALS 

Janet 
[Persistently'] 

Mother. Didn't you even feel for father 
as I did to-night when Carter . . . ? 

Mrs. York 
[Horrified throughout] 
No. No. I loved your father. 

York 
And don't you love Carter? 

Janet 
[Incredulously] 
Is that love? 

Mrs. York 
It's part of love. 

Janet 

[Introspectively] 
Then — don't I love Carter? 

York 
[Trying to quiet her] 
Of course, you do. 



CRIMINALS 25 

Janet 

[Speaking as though overcome with a new 

revelation^ 

I don't. I don't. How could I love him 
if I couldn't let — ? Oh ! — If you, mother, 
loved father and . . . and yet / couldn't . . . 

York 
Janet, you're all nerves. Are you differ- 
ent from other girls? 

Janet 
[Gazing before her'\ 

I don't know. I can't understand my- 
self — [Impulsively^ Mother, mother; I 
hated him ! 

Mrs. York 
Janet ! 

Janet 
[Shuddering in recollection'] 

Yes — yes. His face changed ... his 
eyes . . . oh ! . . . And then he — he was 
sorry. There were tears in his eyes. But 
I was frightened and . . . oh, I thought I 
belonged to myself. 



26 CRIMINALS 

York 
[Kindly] 

You belong to Carter, and he's coming 
here for you. 

Janet 
[Startled'} 
Coming here? 

Mrs. York 
Yes. He 'phoned. 

Janet 
I thought I was safe here in my home. 

York 
Your home is with him now. You're his 
wife, Janet. And you promised him . . . 

Janet 
\_Indignantly~\ 

How could I promise something I didn't 
know about? But you knew what I was 
promising and you didn't tell me. You 
didn't tell me ! How could you do such a 
thing? It was a crime! 



CRIMINALS 27 



Mrs. York 
[Deeply wounded^ 

A crime ? 

York 
Janet, you're talking to your mother. 

Janet 
My mother; yes; my dear little mother 
whom I trusted so. 

Mrs. York 
You're breaking my heart. I did every- 
thing in the world for you. 

Janet 
\^With great reproach] 
Except tell me the one thing I should have 
known ! 

Mrs. York 

Janet! 

Janet 

And now I understand the strange look 
you gave me, mother, when you said good- 
by. You knew you should have told me. 



28 CRIMINALS 

[Mrs. York lowers her head. 
The outer door down-stairs is heard 
opening and then closing^ 

York 
There's Carter. 

Janet 
I won't see him now. 

York 
Now, Janet : don't be a foolish girl. 

Janet 
[With a certain calm\ 
I'm going to my own room. 

York 
You must listen to reason. 

Janet 
I don't know what you mean by reason. 

York 
[Taking hold of her arms\ 
Janet, was he ... ? 



CRIMINALS 29 



Janet 
Let me go, father. 

York 
IF orce fully] 

Answer me. Was Carter unkind or 
bru . . .? 

Janet 
How should I know? He tried to kiss 
me — differently. And he didn't tell me be- 
fore ... I won't see him. I won't. I 
won't. 

Mrs. York 
Janet ! Janet ! 

[Janet ^oes into her room slam- 
ming the door. Mrs. York holds 
her hands out after her. York 
seems thoroughly aroused to anger] 

Mrs. York 
[Turning helplessly to her husband] 
You don't think It was because . . . ? 



30 CRIMINALS 

York 
[Determined] 

That's what I mean to find out. Go to 
her. 

Mrs. York 
And she called me a criminal ! 

[Mrs. York almost timidly goes 
into the room, closing the door. 
Carter is heard coming up the 
stairs, York turns and waits with 
suppressed excitement. 

After a moment Carter Mer- 
WIN enters. There is a look of anx- 
iety upon his strongly modeled face. 
In appearance he is immediately in- 
gratiating since his whole manner 
suggests great sincerity of character. 
He is in his early thirties. 

He stands there looking at YoRK 
and throughout the following seems 
deeply moved with pity for Janet. 
They speak with subdued intensity, 
never raising their voice for fear the 
others will hear] 



CRIMINALS 31 

Carter 
Janet's here? 

York 
Yes. With her mother. 

Carter 
IRelievedl 

I'm glad. [He starts towards door} 
Poor little girl. 

York 
[Stopping him} 

Where are you going? 

Carter 
To tell her not to worry. 

York 
You can't ^ee her now. 

Carter 
Why do you stop me? 

York 
She's my daughter and — 



32 CRIMINALS 

Carter 
[Quietly'] 
My wife. 

York 
[Halted somemhat by his tone\ 
What kind of a man are you ? 

Carter 
What do you mean ? 

York 
You Know what I mean. 

Carter 
I don't understand. 

York 
She's come here seeking my protection. 

Carter 
Protection? Her greatest protection 
would have been a little knowledge. 

York 
[Controlling himself with difficulty] 

We kept for you a glrPs greatest gift to 
her husband: her innocence. 



CRIMINALS 33 

Carter 
She brought me only Ignorance. 

York 
I tell you, you shan't go to her now. 

Carter 
But she must see how I care for her. 
She mustn't think I don't understand. She 
must let me help her — be kind to her. 
You don't think I have come to take her away 
unwillingly ? 

York 
Then why are you here? 

Carter 
Because I don't want her to be afraid. 

York 

Damn you ! 

Carter 
Mr. York! 

York 
Why did you frighten her? 



34 CRIMINALS 

Carter 
/ didn't frighten her. 

York 
What did? 

Carter 
A fact. The commonest fact in life. 

York 
Which a man who knows life should have 
learned how to tell a . . . 

Carter 
Most men don't have to tell women. 
Twice you've insinuated . . . 

York 
She left you; didn't she? 

Carter 
Yes. She said nothing. She cried and 
she struck me. 

York 
[Astonished] 
Struck you? 



CRIMINALS 35 

Carter 
Yes. 

York 
[Coming closer to himi 
Then you did give her cause ? 

Carter 
I came to her with a man's love. 

York 
And acted like a — 

Carter 
Say It. 

York 

Like a brute! 

Carter 

[He rushes at him, clutching his arms, but 

trying to control himself] 

Mr. York! I love her. Do you hear? 
I love her. 

York 
But forgot what kind of a girl she was. 



36 CRIMINALS 

Carter 
[Hardly helieving'] 
What are you saying? 

York 
Isn't It the truth? 

Carter 
[^Still holding him and speaking iensely'\ 

Do you think because the language men 
have to use Is the same to all women, that 
the feeling back of It can't be different? 
Don't you know I felt differently? I tell 
you I love her. No, no, it wasn't as you 
think. I was kind. I understood she had 
never ... I understood. But I thought 
she knew what marriage was; thought she 
was happy coming to me; thought she was 
willingly coming to me. But she made me 
feel as though I weren't her husband. I was 
only a thief in her room. Not the man she 
loved; but a criminal I 

York 
[Staring at himl 
A criminal! You, too! 



CRIMINALS 37 

Carter 
Yes. And don't you feel like a criminal? 
Didn't you give her to me? 

York 

[With indignant sarcasm] 

I thought I gave her to a man of honor. 

Carter 

Yet you never asked me one question. I 
never thought of it myself till she struck me. 
Then the crime we had done her stunned 
me — before I could talk to her. I didn't 
blame her. I blamed myself and you: for 
you gave her to me, as the service says; but 
you didn't tell her a single thing about what 
was to happen. And I took her from your 
hands — I who had talked of everything our 
hfe was to hold together — everything but 
that. 

York 

Carter ! 

Carter 
WeVe made the fact of marriage seem 
horrible. Oh, Fm ashamed to my soul of 
my part in this crime. 



38 CRIMINALS 

York 
How dare you speak like this ! 

Carter 
But isn't it the truth? Did you or I do 
anything to make her see the beauty of this? 
Did you or I tell her the simplest fact? Did 
you or I do anything else to protect her ? 

York 
Do you realize — • 

Carter 
Oh, if you'd seen the look In her eyes — 
the helpless shocked expression. Instead of 
the man's pure love / brought her, she might 
have had to face anything, anything. Think 
of It: anything! Good God! It's terrible. 
She was helpless and she knew nothing — 
nothing. [Going to him] But you and I 
knew: you knew life, knew men. Yet 
neither you nor the minister ever asked me 
one question. You never asked me what 
was also her right to know before she came 
to me. You never asked me what my life 
had been or whether I was jit to be her hus- 
band. [York tries to protest] Oh, you 



CRIMINALS 39 



must listen to me; for you stand there judg- 
ing me and forgetting what you, her father, 
had done to her. I'm ashamed of myself 
and so should you be. You asked me about 
my bank-account but you never asked me 
about my body. 

York 
[^Fundamentally of ended"] 

Do you think I would have insulted you 
with such a question? 

Carter 
But you were willing to take a chance on 
your daughter. 

York 
No man who wasn't decent would have 
married a sweet pure girl like Janet. 

Carter 
Wouldn't he ? I know hundreds ! ! 

[As they stand there tense, fac' 
ing each other, the door opens; they 
turn toward it. There is a pause and 
Mrs. York, almost a changed 
woman, slowly comes into the room. 



40 CRIMINALS 

She closes the door. No word is 
spoken. Carter stands there look' 
ing at her in question. Her eyes are 
on the ground, York moves as one 
dazed to the deep chair and later 
sinks into it, staring fixedly before 
him] 

Carter 
[Very quietly] 
She knows I am here? 

Mrs. York 
Yes. 

Carter 
She'll see me? 

Mrs. York 
She sent me away. 

Carters 
[Understanding] 
She wants to be alone. 

Mrs. York 
Yes. 



CRIMINALS 41 



Carter 
[After some hesitation he goes slowly to 
Janet's door and knocks, speaking with 
ill-controlled emotion'] 
Janet! Janet! It's Carter. I shan't see 
you till you wish me. But don't be afraid, 
little girl. Don't be afraid any more. 
We'll go away together and everything will 
be as you wish, everything as you wish — 

[He waits but there is no answer. 
He sits upon the sofa unable to 
speak'] 

Mrs. York 

[She crosses to him, placing her hand on his 

shoulder] 

Don't, Carter. 

Carter 
[With deep conviction] 
It can never be the same. 

Mrs. York 
In time. 



42 CRIMINALS 

Carter 
No. She'll never forget the shock — that 
first shock. 

Mrs. York 
Women do. 

Carter 
How could they? 

Mrs. York 
She loves you. She broke down and cried. 
She sees now it wasn't your fault. 

Carter 
But it was. 

Mrs. York 

[As she sits down slowly on the sofa beside 

him'] 

I never knew there could be girls like 
Janet. 

Carter 

She must see there are other things in 
marriage than this. She must. [He knocks 
at the door again] Janet! Janet! Let 
me be your friend! I'll protect you. It's 



ti, 1 



CRIMINALS 43 



my right now. I love you, little girl. I'll 
wait till — [But there is no answer. He 
sits domn again, murmuring^ It could all 
have been spared if one of us had had a little 
courage. 

Mrs. York 
[Staring before her~\ 

Yes; it takes courage. 

Carter 
Why should It? 

Mrs. York 
She knows now. 

Carter 
And It all could have been so simple. 

York 
[Still staring guiltily before him] 
Criminals ! 

[Mrs. York looks slowly at him, 
but Carter's eyes lift to the door, 
hoping it will open again. There is 
a long silence. Then the curtain 
slowly closes them from view] 




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